We’ve been looking at almost exclusively new developments. Partially because that’s our preference, and partially because they seem to have the most open houses. But Brooklyn is not all about new developments, in fact new developments are almost the antithesis of Brooklyn. So this weekend we decided to mix it up a bit, looking at some old with some new. Josh is a big fan of brownstones and imagines that one day we’ll own our own little piece of something along the brownstone belt, so 204 Clermont looked like a good place to start.
The agents believed 204 Clermont was built “around 1901″. It’s used as a 3 family unit, though it has a COO of four, currently all units are being rented out. The owner we were advised would take the duplex units, meaning the first two floors and a deck. The owner unit featured 2 roomy bedrooms, a parlor / liming room, kitchen, dining area, large windows, a marble mantle, 12+ ft ceilings, granite counters, and garage. The top two floors we were assured would be easily rented out due to its close proximity to Pratt, and in fact the they were already being rented out for a cool $1,500+ each. A $3,000+ monthly influx is certainly nothing to sneeze at, and with all the sun (i.e. double exposures) its not hard to see why.
But this brownstone wasn’t in the best possible shape. The exterior and interior needed noticeable paint jobs. Renters had occupied the building, and it showed. Just from the outside the brownstone didn’t look that well maintained (compared to its neighbors) and the whole place had a sort of run-down feel to it. The realtors did what they could to explain the condition and highlighted its fixtures, unique details, strong foundations and space. Josh actually thought the brownstone was beautiful and didn’t think the $1.5M was unreasonable given that it comes with a $3k+ monthly income. I wasn’t thrilled with the lightless downstairs bedrooms, and the dingy feeling throughout. I was especially disappointed that the owners had basically destroyed the beautiful bay windows by putting a kitchen there. I don’t know, maybe Josh is right when he pointed out, “Marie, it’s over a hundred years old its not going to look like a brand new condo in a high-rise, it’s abrownstone.” But I still don’t get it.
The Queen Bee. She rules over the Flatbush Riviera. All of Downtown Brooklyn and Fort Greene is her domain. 
it is unfortunate that people who write reviews about houses do not actually contact the owners to find out about the history of the house. if so, one would understand why the changes were made in the house and what were the limitations of the renovation. when the owners finally got the house…the house was chopped…the parlor floor was an apt. with a living room in the front..kitchen in the middle (by bay windows)..bedroom in back..
the owners did not destroy it was what they had to work with. the lightless rooms downstairs were actually another apt. with a kitchen in the back of the house..bedroom in the middle and living/dining room in front..it is a basement(therefore dark)…other apts. were similarly divided with many of the ornamental plaster destroy..owners put all the ornamental plaster back…to change many things such as plumbing and some electrical and/or other things in this house would have been too expensive at the time..the outside was started a bit at a time…also, tenants will be tenants no matter what…you get some good ones while others do not care how they keep the apts. sorry but it gets to me when someone reviews houses without knowing the true story about them. the owners put a lot of care and love into this house since it was in the family for many years. want to know about the house..im the owner..so contact us any time you choose. it is best that way like that you get the true facts as to why things were done this or that way. thank you kindly for your cordial attention. respectfully, lourdes torres-shepard
Well I’m sure it was a beautiful house, and a lot of care and love went into it. But it looks the way it looks. I’m sorry, I’m reviewing houses not history.
gee that’s too bad..it is exactly like “josh” pointed out…it’s 100years old or more…i think the history of the houses is important so that someone could make an informative objective review..
thanks kindly for responding.
oops i forgot…actually the rental is $4000 and it could be more but the landlords are not greedy…keep the same rental for awhile…and sorry to say..you cannot discriminate on tenants because of their tidiness.
again thanks.